Shoe-stapling machine



1929. .1 ALEXANDER ,601

SVHOE STAPLING MACHINE Filed Feb v 17,. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l 55 M v I51 -e May 14, 1929 J ALEXANDER 1,712,601

SHOE STAPLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 1929- JM. ALEXANDER ,6

' SHOE STAPLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1928 5 SheetsSheet 3 y 14, 1929-J M. ALEXANDER SHOE STAPLING' MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet4 JM .dlxandefi elk/toena l 1 1929- J M. ALEXANDER SHOE STAPLING MACHINE'5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 17, 1928 JM. fllexa zdci' Patented May 14,1929.

J MONROE ALEXANDER, or srnursn FORK, UTAH.

SHOE-STAPLING MACHINE.

Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,043.

This invention has reference to shoe making machinery, and moreparticularly to a machine designed for securing the soles of shoes totheir uppers, by the stapling method.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter wherein the staple forming and setting operations will becarried out in sequence, it being only necessary for the operator tohold the shoe under ope 'ation in position on the movable shoe supportof the machine, while the machine is in operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means foradjusting the wire feeding mechanism of the machine so that variouslengths of wire may be cut in the formation of staples of variouslengths, to the end that the machine may be used in stapling soles ofvarious thicknesses.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a machine wherein thestaple Wire feed ing disk will be rotated by a step by step movementtodistribute the wear directed to the milled edge of the feeding. disk,throughout the entire circumference thereof.

ii still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will be strong and durable, o'llicient in oporation, andone wherein the construction of the machine is greatly simplified by thereduction of the number of parts necessary in the construction of themachine, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture to the minimum.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction herein describedand claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodimentof the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of whatis claimed, WltllOllb departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine constructed inaccordance with the of Figure 2.

lligure 4k is a sectional view taken on line 4l4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmental plan view illustrating the movable anvil.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the former.

Figure 12 is an elevational View illustrating the adjustable staple wirefeeding member. 1 l

t Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a:fragmental enlarged sectional view of the feeding diskand cooperating feeding elements.

Figure 15 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the means foradjusting the movements of the sole engaging feeder.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on line- 16-16 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device includes an upright bodyportion in cheated generally by the reference character 5, the samebeing provided with supporting feet 6 supplied with openings whereby themachine may be firmly secured to the surface on which it is supported.

The body portion or frame embodies parallel spaced members 7 that aresubstantially Wide at their upper ends, and held in spaced relation witheach other by means of the spacing bar 8. 1

At the upper end of the frame is a horizontally disposed bearing 9 inwhich the main or operating shaft of the machine, indicated by thereference character 10, operates. Mounted on the rear end of the shaft10, and secured thereto to move with the shaft, is a disk 11 againstwhich the power pulley 12 is designed to move, the disk 11 be ingprovided with a leather clutch facing13 so that when the pulley 12 ismoved toward the disk 11, the pulley 12 will be clutched to the shaft 10to operate the shaft 10.

l r The clutching result between the pulley 12 and disk 13 isaccomplished through the medium of the vertically movable rod 14 thathas its lower end connected to the arm 15 which in turn is pivotallyconnected to the base of the machine, at 16, the forward end of the arm15. being supplied with a pedal -17.

7 At the upper end of the rod 14 is a yoke 18 thatstraddles the main:shaft and'h'as pivotal'connection with the arms 19 that in turn havepivotal connection with the clutch collar 20 that has its outer surfacefree to contact with the ring 21 loosely mounted on the shaft- 10.Springs 22 connect with the arms 19 at their lower ends, and have theiropposite endsanchored to the base of the bearing'9, as at 23, so thatunder normal conditions the clutch collar is held in its inactiveposition, and the main pulley 12 is running free on the shaft 10. Itis'obvious that-when the pedal 17 is forced downwardly against thetension of the spring 24 which is connected with the arm 15, the'clutchcollar 20 is moved laterally to clutch the power pulley to the shaft 10in a manner as described' V Connected with the arm 15 at a point inspacedrelation with the rod 14, is a rod 25 that has its upperendextending through the arm 26 of a. lever pivotallymounted on thestandard 5 where it is supplied with a nut 27 against which the coiledspring 28 contacts, the lower end ofthe spring 28 resting on the upperedge of the arm'26 so that downward movement of the' arm 15 to operatethe clutch, will simultaneously move .the rod 25 downwardly torock thearm 26,

I through the block 29 and accommodates the support 33 formed with a.central bore for the reception of the stem 34 in which the shoe support35 is mounted, the shoe support having a substantially square shank 36fitted in a squared opening of the stem 34. Mountedon the shank 36 is acoiled spring 37 that is disposed between the base of the support 35 andthe upper end of the stem 34 so that the support 35 may move vertically.underthe tension of :the spring 37 during "the'operation of themachine.

The upper portion of the frame of the vmachine is cut away as at 38providing a clearance for the wheel 39 having a cam groove 40 in itsrear face and a cam groove 41 in lts forward face, it being understoodthat the wheel 39 is secured to the shaft 10 to move therewith. Securedto the outer extremity of the shaft 10 is a cam 42 formed with a cutaway portion to permit the hammer shaft which is indicated by thereference character 43, to drop or move downwardly during the setting ofthe staple, this action being caused by the roller 44 extendinglaterally from the hammer shaft 43 and which operates over the cam 42,dro ping over One edge of the cam when he wide side of the cam is at theupper side of the circle of rotation of the cam.

The hammer shaft is rovided with grooves 45 formed in its sidl edges,which grooves accomodate the ribs 46 of the bars 47 that are secured tothe forward face of the upper supporting portion 48 of ithe frame, sothat the hammer shaft will have a true vertical movement to accomplishits purpose.

The upper extremity of the hammer shaft is reduced as at 49 and extendsthrough the plate 50, the upper extremity of the reduced portion 49being threaded to accommodate the adjusting nut 51 which acts as a stopto restrict downward movement of the hammer shaft, and it will be seenthat when the hammer shaft snaps downwardly under the action of thecoiled springs 52, the nut 51 will engage the washer 53 formed ofsuitable material to cushion the blow of the hammer shaft 43.

As shown, the springs 52 connect with the plate 50 and have their upperends connected with the cross piece 54 that moves vertically with thehammer shaft in guides formed by the extensions of the upper supportingportion of the frame. Secured to the cross piece 54 and extendinglaterally therefrom is a finger 56 against which the upper reduced endof the hammer shaft en gages, so that as the hammer shaft moves upwardlythe cross piece 54 moves with it and places the springs 52 undertension.

Secured at one side of the frame are bearings 57 in which the shaft 58is secured, the shaft 58 acting as a support for the arms 59 and 60respectively, the arm 69 carrying a laterally extending )in 61 thatmoves in the cam groove 41. This pin 61 is of a length to engage the arm62 of the former 63 which is provided with an opening 64 through whichthe lower extremity of the hammer shaft extends.

As clearly shown, by Figure 3, the lower extremity of the hammer shaftis bifurcated as at 65 so that it will move over the hollow member 66through which the steel rod 67 moves, the steel rod being secured withinthe hammer shaft by means of the set screw 68.

A table indicated at 69 is supported at a point adjacent to the upperend of the machine and provides a support for the various elementscooperating with the former and cutter to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

bore 7% of thestaple guide 75.

As shown, the former has its lower edge cut away to lit over the formerblock 70, the former block being provided with a groove through whichthe extension 71 of too laterally movable anvil "Z2, extends to receivethe length of wire of which the staple is to he formed. A formingopening 73 is formed in the former head and is designed to provide aclearance so that as the former head moves downwardly over the extension71 and over the wire which has been moved to aposition thereover, thest-aplc will be formed and forced through the Forming a partof thestaple guiding means, is an extension 76 on the former block againstwhich the forward end of the anvil 72 en gages tothe end that aretaineris provided so that when the anvil is returned to its normal position,the staple will be guided downwardly between the extension 76 and theend of theanvil 72. I i i 7 As shown by Figure 8, the former is provided with an extension 77 extending rearwardly therefrom, and to whichthe depending a-rm 78 issccured, the arm 78 being provided with a camsurface '79 that moves against the roller 80 at one end of themovableianvil 72, to move the anvil forwardly, as the former. is movedupwardly.

Disposed at the forward end of the anvil is a roller Slthat lies in thepath of downward movement of the cam surface formcd on the inner edge ofthe finger 82 so that when the former moves downwardly to a position tocontact with the wire and anvil to bend the wire into a staple, theanvil is moved rearwardly or to position as shown by Figure 3, releasingthe staple to allow it to be forced through the guide 75 by the hammeror setter hami'ner which in the present showing is in the form of thesteel rod 67. Due to the fact that the anvil is supported under theplate 83 which is mounted on the tableof the machine, it will be seenthat the anvil will reciprocate freely under the action of these camsurfaces.

Supported directly under the table is a bearing 84- in which the shaft85 is mounted, the rear end of the shaft carrying a ratchet wheel 86 tobe engaged by the pawl 87 carried by the arm 88 that in turn is providedwith a shaft 89 operating in the adj ustable block 90. The block 90 isadjusted by means of the, screw 91 so that the pawl may be moved toengage alternate teeth of the ratchet wheel. 86 as the ,arnr88 is moved,causing the shaft 85 to be rotated a greater distance than it would beif the pawl only engages successive teeth of the ratchet wheel An armindicated at 92supports the block 90 and has pivotal. connection withthe arm 93 which is secured to the extension 77 of the former. As theformer movesupwardly,

the arm 92 is moved correspondingly to retatethe shaft 85 through themechanism described. 1

Rotary movement of the shaft 85 results in a rotary movement of the feedroller 9 1- that bites into the soleiof the shoe under operation tocause the sole to be fed under the machine to the end that the staplewill be properly positioned.

Associated with the hammer and former and arranged laterally thereof isa cutter that includes the cutter block 95 over which the wire to beformed into staples moves, the operation of the feeding mechanism to behereinafter more fully described being such that a length of wire willbe fed to the cutter and the cutter operated to, cut the wire after ithas passed under the former and hammer. Forming a part ofthe cutter isavertically movable head 96, the same being provided wit-h an inclinededge 97 cooperating with the inclined edge 98 of the block 95 whichedges cut the wire into the desired length for forming the staple.

The movable head 96 is formed with an opening to accommodate the guidebar 99 that extends upwardly from the table, so that the head 96 will bemoved in a true vertical plane to insure the proper contact of thecutting edges. Connected with the head 96 is an arm 100 that extendsdownwardly from the arm 101 formed with an opening to receive the guidebar 102 of the supporting structure of the frame.

The rear end of the arm 101 is reduced and extended through the bearing103 provided with grooves in its upper and lower surfaces to fit withinthe bifurcated end 104 of the arm 59 so that as the arm is moved, themovable head 96 is moved vertically into and out of engagement with theblock 95 to cutthe wire. Movement is imparted to the arm 59, by the pin105 extending laterally therefrom, and which operates in the camgroove40 of the wheel 39.

It is to be understood however that when a single power shaft operatesto move the hammer, former and cutter, the cams are so constructed thatthe various members are properly timed to accomplish their respectiveoperations at the proper time to out, form and set the staple.

Guide bars 99 extend upwardly from the table andare arranged in spacedrelation with each other acting as a support for the movable head 96 asbefore stated which movable head is provided with a rear portion 107that acts as a support for the arm 108 that in turn is supplied with alaterally extended finger 109 disposed within the space between the arms110 of the wire feeding mechanism.

While the bars 99 extend upwardly from the table, they are supported onthe movable bar 111 provided with lateral ribs operating in groovesformed in the table as clearlyshown by Figure 13 of the drawings.

'link 114 wit-h the result that as the lever 113 is moved, the bar 111and guide bars 99 will be moved longitudinally of the table tobring thefinger 109 to a position adjacent to the outer ends of the arms 110 orto a point ad- V jacent to the inner ends of the inclined surfaces 115thereof, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

- Supporting arms 116 have downwardly extended end portions 117 whichare provided with openings to receive the bolt 118 that pivotallyConnects the arms to the table of the machine. These arms 116 arearranged in parallel spaced relation with each other and are formed withaligning openings to receive the shaft 118 that extends an appreciabledistancebeyond the rear surface of one of the arms 116 as clearly shownby figure 4 of the drawings. Secured to this shaftf118 is a feed wheel119 that has its rear surface cut away'adjacent to the peripherydefining a recess 120 formed with notches defining teeth to bite intothe wire, which in the present showing is indicated by the referencecharacter 121, to feed the wire into the machine.

Directly under thewheel 119 is a shaft 122 on whichthe rollers 123 and124are mountates. Teeth 125 are formed on the inward- :ly'extendedportion or hub of the roller 123 and over which the wire movesin being fed to-the machine, it'being understood that movement of thewheel 119 exerts a forward 'pull on the wire to move it into themachinef I 1 r i In order that the wheel 119 may be moved into closeengagement with the wire operating over the teeth 125, a pivoted arm 126is provided, the arm being connected with the table at 127, the'upperextremity of the arm passing between the arms 116 from where it passesthrough the plate 128 that connects the outer ends of the arms 116 asclearly shown by Figure 60f the drawings. Mounted at the upper end ofthe arm 126 is a lever 129that has cam surfaces 130 at its inner end,the cam surfaces being designed te contact with the washer 131' againstwhich the upper end of the coiled spring 132' bears, the lower end ofthe coiled spring resting on the plate 128. Thus it ;-will be seen thatas the lever 129 is moved cicnt to cause the teeth thereof to bite intothe wire.

As clearly shown by Figure 13, a ratchet wheel 133 is secured to theshaft 118' and is engaged by the pawl 134 carried by the yoke 135 thatis provided with openings to accommodate the shaft 118. A regulatingscrew indicated at 136 extends through the yoke 135 and contacts withthe pawl 134 for adjusting the pawl with res ect to the teeth of theratchet wheel 133. he arms 110 have pivotal connection with the yoke 135at 137, or at their inner ends, the arms being connected adjacent totheir outer ends by means of the bolt 138 which passes through openingsin the arms 110, there bein provided a coiled sprin 139 positionedetween the arms 110 and coiled around the bolt 138, to restrict movementof the arms 110 towards each other.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction the operator may bmoving the lever 113 move the head an arm 108 to bring the finger 109 toa position adjacent to the outer ends of the arms 110, whereupon it willbe seen that with each vertical movement of the arm 108 caused by thevertical movement of the head, the arms 110 will be rocked to operatethe pawl which in turn moves the ratchet wheel to operate the shaft 122a predetermined distance, and since the finger 109 operates through agreater space than it would if the fin or were moved to a positionad'acent to tie inner ends of the inclined sur aces 115, there will be acertain amount of lost motion to the end that the arms 110 will berocked only slightly, this bcin necessary in the formation of asubstantially short staple. Should it be desired to position a longersta le, it is obvious that by a movement of tiie lever 113 the head andarm 108 as well as the fin r 109 carried thereby may be moved to bringthe finger adjacent to the inner end of the inclined surface 115,whereupon the arms 110 will be engaged by the finger 109 throughoutsubstantially the entire upward movement of the head 96 causing agreater movement of the ratchet and ratchet wheel to rotate the shaft122 a greater distance, and consequently feeding a greater length ofwire to the machine.

11 bracket 140 extends laterally from the frame of the machine andprovides a support for the arms 141 between which the reel 142 operates,the reel being provided with laterally disposed pins 143 on which thewire, which in the present showing is indicated by the referencecharacter 144, is wound, the wire being fed to the machine through theguide 145 that is shown as curved upwardly and supported in the pivotedsupport 146.

In the operation of the machine a shoe to be stapled is positioned overthe shoe support in a manner as shown by Figure 2, whereupon the pedal17 is pressed downwardly by the foot of the operator which causes theclutch mechanism on the main power shaft 10 of the machine to throw themain power pulley 12 over which a belt not shown, operates, intooperation.

As the shaft 10 rotates the wheel 39 is rotated and the former head ismoved upwardly to a point above the forming anvil, whereupon itdescends. Prior to the downward movement of the former head, it is to beunderstood that the anvil 92 is moved laterally until the extension 71thereof lies in a position as shown by Figure 10 or in a positiondirectly under the former head. The cutter now comes into play andsevers a length of the wire which is held in a position directly overthe extension of the anvil, whereupon the former descends to form thestaple.

The construction of the cam grooves and cams of the machine is such thatas soon as the staple has been formed, the hammer or setter which isindicated at 67 moves downwardly contacting with the staple to force itinto the shoe.

As the operation of the machine continues these operations are repeated,it being understood that the shoe under treatment is held on the supportas shown by Figure 2 and fed under the former head in the usual. andwell known manner.

It is believed that in View of the foregoing detail description, afurther detail description of the device is unnecessary.

I claim:

1. In a shoe stapling machine, a frame, a vertically movable formeroperating on the frame, a hammer operating through the former, a Wirecutter, a main shaft, a wheel having cam grooves in opposite side facesthereof, a mutilated cam on the outer end of the shaft, pivoted armsmounted adjacent to the wheel, laterally extending pins carried by thearms and disposed within the grooves to move the arms, means fortransmitting movement of the arms to the former and wire cutter, tooperate the cutter in advance of the former, and means operated by themutilated cam for moving the hammer to set a staple formed by theformer.

2. In a staple forming machine, a frame,

a former operating on the frame, a cutter movable on the frame, meansfor feeding a length of wire to the former, said feeding means includinga shaft, a wheel mounted on one end of the shaft, a ratchet wheel. onthe shaft, a yoke carrying a pawl to engage the ratchet wheel, a pair ofdiverging arms secured to the yoke to move the yoke and pawl to move theratchet wheel and feed wheel, an arm movable with the cutter, a pinextending laterally from the arm and disposed between the diverging armsto engage the arms to move the arms and ratchet wheel, means foradjusting the pin towards and away from the outer ends of the arms tocause the pin to engage the arms at different points to adjust themovement of the feed wheel, and means for operating the former.

3. In a shoe stapling machine, a frame, a

former including a former head movable vertically with respect to theframe, said former head having an opening, a guiding member under theformer head, said guiding member including an upstanding member, saidguiding member having a slot adjacent to the upstanding member, an anvilhaving an extension adapted to move into the slot, means for feeding alength of wire to the anvil, the opening in the former head adapted toaccommodate the upstanding member and extension of the anvil when theformer head moves to its active position, means for retracting theanvil, and a staple setting member movable through the former head andguide to set the staple.

4. In a shoe stapling machine, a frame, a vertically movable formermounted on the frame, an anvil supported by the frame, a roller at eachend of the anvil, an arm extending laterally from the former andcarrying cams, said cams adapted to engage the rollers to move the anviltowards and away from the former, means for feeding a length of wire tothe anvil to be engaged by the former to form a staple, and areciprocating staple setting member adapted to engage the staple afterit has been formed to set the staple.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy sig nature.

J MONROE ALEXANDER.

